Hand lever for a binding machine

ABSTRACT

A binding machine includes a tightening mechanism adapted to tension a belt and a limiting mechanism adapted to limit tensioning of the belt. The tightening mechanism includes, for example, a ratchet and a pawl coupled to a body of the tightening mechanism. A handle is adapted to rotate the ratchet in a first direction in response to a first force applied to the handle. The pawl is adapted to prevent the ratchet from returning in a second direction when the first force is released. A spring mechanism allows the handle to indicate when a second force opposing the first force achieves an established magnitude.

The present application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §120, ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/821,987 filed on Apr. 12, 2004 nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,374,152, which claims priority to Chinese patentapplication number 200420020002-9 filed on Feb. 5, 2004, the disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention belongs to the technical field of mechanics, and itinvolves a type of binding tool, specifically, a type of binding machineused for transport vehicles and other large, non-standard cargo.

BACKGROUND

When a truck is transporting cargo, it is necessary to bind up thecargo. If common nylon cord or steel wire is employed for binding, notonly is the efficiency low, but also operations are very strenuous. Byusing a binding machine one is able to quickly and conveniently bindcargo into a fixed position. It can bind as one wishes on trucks, andoperations are simple and save on labor and time. As a result, it is nowwidely used.

When using a binding machine to hind cargo, it requires appropriatebinding strength. If the binding strength is excessively large, this cancause the cargo to be damaged; at the same time, excessively greatbinding strength also easily results in damage to the binding machineand the fixed end of the band. On the contrary, if the binding force isexcessively small, the cargo will then be loose and will not have anybinding effects.

However, in the existing structures of binding machines, each timebinding operations are carried out on cargo, the level of binding isdetermined based on the experiences and feelings of the operator. Thebinding machines are unable to indicate to the operator as to whether ornot the binding force has already reached an appropriate level. Thisinadequacy directly affects the operating speed and binding quality ofbinding machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aims of this invention are to address the above-mentioned problemthat is present in existing binding machines, provide a new andinnovative hand lever for binding machines, as well as make improvementson the hand lever so that the binding machine is able to indicate to anoperator whether or not the binding machine has already realizedrequirements during usage so as to raise the binding quality andoperating speed of binding machines.

The aims of this invention can be realized by means of the followingtechnological plans: this binding machine hand lever includes a handleand side plates. One end of the side plate is firmly connected with thehandle, and the other end is cup jointed on the reel of the bindingmachine. Its special characteristic is that the said side plate iscomposed from connecting piece 1 and connecting piece 2. Within this,the end section of connecting piece 1 is firmly connected with thehandle, the end section of connecting piece 2 is cup jointed on the reelof the binding machine, and the other end sections of connecting piece 1and connecting piece 2 are both cup jointed on a pin roll. Moreover, aspring is installed in the area of the pin roll and the two ends of thespring are separately and firmly connected on connecting piece 1 andconnecting piece 2. A block edge is installed on connecting piece 1 orconnecting piece 2 to prevent the bending that results from connectingpiece 1 and connecting piece 2 sustaining elastic force from the spring.

In this binding machine hand lever, the side plate is divided into thetwo sections of connecting piece 1 and connecting piece 2 which arejoined to each other with a hinge, and a spring and block edge are usedso that both are kept straight and extended. When operating the bindingmachine, throwing the hand lever causes the direction of the bindingmachine's notch wheel reel to be opposite of the direction of theapplied force of the spring on the hand lever. During the early periodof throwing the hand lever to create reel movement, the tension force isquite small and the side plate of the hand lever is extended straight.Following the continuous tightening of the band, the binding forcecontinuously enlarges and the tension force on the hand lever alsocorrespondingly enlarges. When the required tension force slightlyexceeds the elastic force of the spring, there is no way that thethrowing of the hand lever will cause the rotation of the roller of thehand lever. It is only able to allow connecting piece 1 to overcome theelastic force of the spring and rotate a certain angle relative toconnecting piece 2. At this time, it then indicates to the operator thatthe binding force of this binding machine has already realized suitablerequirements.

In the above-mentioned binding machine hand lever, the said side platehas two plates, and the end sections of connecting piece 1 in the twoside plates are separately and firmly connected to the two sides of thehandle. The installation of two side plates can raise the mechanicalstrength of the binding machine and lengthen the service life of theproducts.

In the above-mentioned binding machine hand lever, cross bar 1 is fixedbetween the said two connecting pieces 1, and one end of the spring isfixed on cross bar 1.

In the above-mentioned binding machine hand lever, cross bar 2 is fixedbetween the said two connecting pieces 2, and the other end of thespring is fixed on cross bar 2.

When compared with existing technology, this binding machine hand leverutilizes an installed spring to control the binding force of the bindingmachine wherein it can avoid the binding force being excessively largeduring operations and causing the bound objects. binding machines andfixed ends from being damaged as a result of overload. The design ofthis binding machine hand lever is rational, mechanical stability isgood, and it possesses very high practical value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic of the binding machine with the handlever of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of the binding machine with the hand lever ofthis invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the binding machine with the hand lever of thisinvention in a loosened state.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the binding machine with the hand lever of thisinvention wherein the hand is in a wound up state.

Within these: 1. Side plate; 11. Connecting piece 1; 12. Connectingpiece 2; 13. Block edge; 14. Cross bar 1; 15. Cross bar 2; 2. Handle; 3,Spring; 4. Pin roll; 5. Reel; 6. Notch wheel; 7. Adjustable band; 8.Body; 9.

Fixed position band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the binding machine includes a handle, body (8),reel (5), notch wheel (6), adjustable band (7), fixed position band (9),and other parts. The inside end of the fixed position band (9) is firmlyconnected on the body (8), the adjustable band (7) then winds on thereel (5), and the notch wheel (6) is firmly connected to the reel (5).

When the binding machine is used, the outside end of the fixed positionband (9) and adjustable band (7) are fixed on the truck or cargo, andafterwards the hand lever is turned repeatedly setting in motion thenotch wheel (6), rotating the reel (5) that is firmly connected with thenotch wheel (6), and tightening the adjustable band. Lastly, the cargois tightened and fixed in place.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. in this example of implementation, thehand lever of the binding machine includes a handle (2) and two sideplates (1). Each plate is composed from connecting piece 1 (11) andconnecting piece 2 (12), connecting piece 1 (11) is firmly connected tothe end section of the handle (2), and the end section of connectingpiece 2 (12) is cup jointed on the reel (5) of the binding machine. Theother ends of connecting piece 1 (11) and connecting piece 2 (12) areboth cup jointed on the pin roll (4). It is clear that connecting piece1 (11) and connecting piece 2 (12) are joined to each other with ahinge.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this example of implementation, the spring (3) iscup jointed on the pin roll (4). At the same time, cross bar 1 (14) isfixed between the two connecting pieces 1 (11), and cross bar 2 (15) isfixed between the two connecting pieces 2 (12). The two ends of thespring (3) are separately fixed on cross bar 1 (14) and cross bar 2(15). Aside from being fixed on the ends of the spring (3), cross bar 1(14) and cross bar 2 (15) also connect the two connecting pieces 1 (11)and two connecting pieces 2 (12) together so as to raise the firmness ofthe hand lever 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2. 3 and 4, the block edge (13) is installed on theedge of connecting piece 1 (11), the block edge (13) bends towards theoutside to block the edge of connecting piece 2 (12), and it is in thedirection that blocks the elastic force effects of the spring (3). As aresult, the blocking effects of the block edge (13) are used to keepconnecting piece 1 (11) and connecting piece 2 (12) extended andstraight. FIG. 1 displays the position of connecting piece 1 (11) shownin the example of implementation.

It is evident that the installation of the block edge (13) on the edgeof connecting piece 2 (12) is also completely feasible.

As shown in FIG. 4. turning the hand lever in the opposite directionalong the elastic force of the spring (3) also causes the reel (5) torotate in the direction of tightening the adjustable band, and the blockedge (13) will not have any blocking effects.

If the required tightening force reaches or slightly exceeds the elasticforce of the spring (3) during the course of turning the hand lever,this will cause connecting piece 1 (11) to overcome the elastic force ofthe spring (3) and rotate a certain angle in relation to connectingpiece 2 (12). The position of connecting piece 1 (11) as shown by thebroken line in FIG. 1 indicates that the binding force of the bindingmachine has already reached an appropriate level by the operator, andthat the tightening operations can be stopped.

1. A binding machine comprising: a reel, said reel being adapted toreceive a band thereon; a handle, said handle being coupled to saidreel, said handle being adapted to receive an applied torque and totransmit said applied torque to said reel, whereby said reel rotates toreceives said band; and a torque indicator, said torque indicator beingadapted to indicate a magnitude of said applied torque by a deflectionof a portion of said handle, said deflection increasing against asubstantially continuous spring force in relation to an increase in saidmagnitude.
 2. A binding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtorque indicator comprises: a handle extension, said handle extensionbeing pivotally coupled to said handle; and a spring, said spring havinga first end coupled to said handle and a second end coupled to saidhandle extension whereby a deflection of said spring indicates amagnitude of said applied torque.
 3. A binding machine as defined inclaim 2 wherein said handle comprises a first side member and a secondside member and a wherein said handle extension includes a third sidemember and a fourth side member, said first and third side membershaving respective first and second apertures therein, said first andsecond apertures being disposed about a first end of a pin roll, saidsecond and fourth side members having respective third and fourthapertures therein, said third and fourth apertures being disposed abouta second end of said pin roll such that said third and fourth sidemembers are adapted to pivot with respect to said first and second sidemembers about said pin roll.
 4. A binding machine as defined in claim 3wherein said spring comprises a helical spring, said helical springhaving a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis of said pin roll, said helical spring having aninternal circumference, said pin roll being disposed within saidinternal circumference of said helical spring.
 5. A binding machine asdefined in claim 1 further comprising: a body member having an aperturetherethrough, said reel being supported within said aperture; a ratchet,said ratchet being coupled to said reel; a pawl, said pawl being coupledto said body member, said pawl being adapted to control a motion of saidratchet.
 6. A binding machine as defined in claim 5 comprising: afurther band, said further band being coupled to said body member,whereby said body member may be disposed in tension between said bandand said further band by application of said applied torque.
 7. Abinding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said torque indicatorincludes a spring, said spring being adapted to deflect through aparticular angle when said specific magnitude of said torque correspondsto an operational tension of said band.
 8. A binding machine comprising:a body portion; a ratchet device coupled to said body portion; a firsthandle portion including first and second side members, said first andsecond side members being disposed in substantially parallel spacedrelation with respect to one another, said first handle portion beingcoupled to said ratchet device for rotational activation of said ratchetdevice; a second handle portion including third and fourth side members,said third and fourth side members being disposed in substantiallyparallel spaced relation with respect to one another, said second handleportion being pivotally coupled to said first handle portion atrespective mutually proximate ends thereof; a helical spring, saidhelical spring being disposed between said first and second sidemembers, said helical spring being adapted to provide a monotonicallyincreasing force in opposition to a pivotal displacement of said firsthandle portion with respect to said second handle portion.
 9. A bindingmachine as defined in claim 8 further comprising an inner cross member,said inner cross member having a first end coupled to said first sidemember and a second end coupled to said second side member, said helicalspring having a first end coupled to said inner cross member.
 10. Aratchet belt tension device, said ratchet belt tension devicecomprising: a drive handle, said drive handle having a first portionwith a first longitudinal axis and a second portion with a secondlongitudinal axis, said first portion being adapted to deflect inrelation to said second portion; and a helical spring, said helicalspring having a first end coupled to said first portion and a second endcoupled to said second portion, wherein said helical spring is adaptedto urge said first longitudinal axis into a substantially coplanarrelation with respect to said second longitudinal axis, whereupon saidfirst portion deflects in relation to said second portion an amountrelated to a tensioning state of said ratchet belt tension device.
 11. Atensioner comprising: a base; a first handle portion pivotally coupledto said base; a second handle portion, said second handle portion beingpivotally coupled to said first handle portion at respective adjacentends thereof; and a spring, said spring having a first spring portionsubstantially fixedly coupled to said first handle portion and a secondspring portion substantially fixedly coupled to said second handleportion, said spring being adapted to flex in response to a forceapplied to said second handle portion; whereupon a first longitudinalaxis of said first spring portion is rotationally displaced with respectto a second longitudinal axis of said second spring portion.
 12. Amethod of forming a tensioning device comprising: rotatably coupling afirst handle portion to a drum at a first end of said first handleportion; pivotally coupling a second handle portion to a second end ofsaid first handle portion; disposing a helical spring between said firstand second handle portions, said helical spring having a first elongatedportion coupled to said first handle portion and a second elongatedportion coupled to said second handle portion said helical spring beingadapted to urge said first and second handle portions into relativefirst and second orientations whereby a longitudinal axis of said firsthandle portion is disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axisof said second handle portion.